Timing Right For Political Novel

The Election's Spotlight On Florida Has Boosted Interest In S.v. Date's Book On State Politics.

December 5, 2000|By Christine Cole, Sentinel Correspondent

MOUNT DORA -- For a novel to sell well, it must be lifted up and carried along by a wave of public interest.

For a lucky few, that surge comes from being selected by Oprah.

For S.V. Date's Smokeout, which he will autograph at Dickens-Reed Bookstore at 7 p.m. Wednesday, the 2000 presidential election is the tide that may make his third novel a bestseller.

"I couldn't have asked for better timing," Date said.

As a novelist and as a newspaperman, Date was in the right place at the right time.

His newest book -- a darkly comic look at Florida politics and special interests -- hit the bookstores during the same time headlines around the world carry a Florida dateline.

Now throw in the fact that Date, as the Tallahassee bureau chief and columnist for The Palm Beach Post, is at the nexus of the biggest story of the year, and the chances for punditry and publicity multiplied.

The first call came from CNN the day after the election. Date and CNN's Jeff Greenfield share an editor at Putnam, and Greenfield had read Date's book. When Greenfield went looking for someone with knowledge and understanding of Tallahassee and Palm Beach County -- where the battle for the presidency is being played out because of questions about punch-card ballots -- he called Date.

That same day, Date embarked on an intensive two-month book tour for Smokeout.

Date loves the coincidence.

His ripped-from-the-headlines satire of corrupt state politicians, ruthless executives, sexy lobbyists and a few honest citizens was in the hands of readers just as ballots from Miami-Dade County were on their way to Tallahassee.

"The whole world thinks we are a banana republic," Date said. "Wait until they get a load of these guys."

Date said that the bright light of world attention on what happens in Tallahassee will be a good thing -- both for the state and for his book.

"Everyone will want to know more about Florida politics and the way we let our state be run," Date said. "Most people don't know what the state Legislature does. If they did, they would be horrified."

Date's first book, Final Orbit, had NASA as a subject. Speed Week was set in Daytona Beach. Date, who covered NASA for the Orlando Sentinel, said his familiarity with those subjects made the writing easier. In Smokeout he again found his subject matter close at hand.

"I don't have to research my books," he said.

His next book will take place in the fertile literary ground of Central Florida's theme parks. Author Carl Hiaasen -- to whom Date has been compared -- also wrote about the Disney empire. Date said he is a Hiaasen fan.

"I am flattered to be compared to him," he said. "He invented the whole sub-genre -- Florida farce -- which is Florida-as-a-joke."

Date recommends his Web site, www.svdate.com, which includes information about all his books, sample chapters of Smokeout, an interview on National Public Radio's Fresh Air, the story of his journey to the Balearic Islands and back by sailboat and links to his columns for The Palm Beach Post.

His ended his Nov. 19 column, which was about the election, with a prompt.

"Just remember, for everyone sick and tired of all this: It could have been worse," he wrote. "We could have had a hurricane on Election Day."

Date said he was pleased to be able to appear at Dickens-Reed because independent bookstores can and do hand-sell the books of new authors. His appearance may include a short reading, he said, depending on those who attend.

He will answer questions from readers or from aspiring novelists, autograph his books and maybe even talk a little politics. For more information, call 352-735-5950.